Operational Support Intern/Officer

Position Overview

This in-country post provides support with the operational and administrative tasks required to run SEED Madagascar. The officer will work alongside both national and international staff providing a wide range of support to SEEDs staff team including supporting the development of organisational policy and procedures, preparing internal and external reports, and day-to-day logistical support to incoming staff. In addition, the post holder will work alongside SEED’s field-based conservation staff in supporting SEEDs conservation research volunteering programme. The diversity of activities undertaken will provide a wide-ranging experience for an early career development professional who can effectively and efficiently deal with a comprehensive range of tasks related to the complex world of overseas development.

About the Organisation

SEED Madagascar is a British Charity working in partnership with communities in the south east of Madagascar. We integrate high quality community health, rural livelihoods, education infrastructure and conservation programmes to support long term, sustainable change and add to international best practice through research and publication across all of our programmatic areas. We are now looking for entry level officers to work alongside national staff and expand our team.

Title: Operational Support Intern – change of title and responsibilities to Operational Support Officer subject to passing 3-month probationary review.

Reporting to: International Operations Manager

Location: Fort Dauphin, Anosy Region, Madagascar

Commitment: 12 months extendable

Salary: Voluntary, unsalaried, contribution to living expenses and insurance

Job type: Office based

Duties and Responsibilities:

International Staff Logistics

1. Provide pre-departure logistical oversight, support and advice with visas, hotels, flights, accommodation, medication etc to new international staff.

2. Lead on supporting international staff during their initial time with SEED including arrival, orientation, social inclusion, cultural understanding, housing and integration into the SEED team

3. Provide pastoral care and leadership, working with line managers to ensure that new and existing international staff members’ wellbeing is supported

4. Lead on the recruitment of international staff, including primary responsibility for managing the advertisement of vacancies

Operations

5. Assist in the preparation of reports for internal and external audiences including Annual Reports and Malagasy Ministry reports

6. Work with the Director of Operations and Programmes, and the International Operations Manager in developing, updating and implementing organisational databases, systems, policies and procedures across the NGO

7. Support on creating, editing and writing website content to ensure organisational and project information is up-to-date

8. Work with national staff to increase their skills and capacity, providing mentoring or training where appropriate

9. Work alongside the IT Officer to provide basic IT support

10. Support the health and safety culture across the organisation, providing guidance and review where necessary

11. Support with the writing of minutes and taking notes across the organisation 12. Ensure all of SEEDs policies and procedures are evident throughout the work of the department, including those for safeguarding, whistleblowing and anti-corruption, and undertake continual training to ensure these are always promoted

13. Assist with administration tasks and any other tasks required by the International Operations Manager or Director of Programmes and Operations in line with the tasks of the post

Supporting conservation volunteers

14. Supporting the Volunteer Operations and Administration Officer with the on-boarding and logistics of the short-term conservation volunteers

15. Supporting the SCRP team in Sainte Luce when required on orientations and pastoral care of volunteers

16. Provide day to day oversight of on-boarding and problem solving in the absence of the Volunteer Officer

Required Skills & Experience/Person Specification

∙ Hold an undergraduate degree in or relating to Development or Conservation or be able to demonstrate a passion for these areas

∙ Be able to work independently and be proactively

∙ Have good all round computing skills and experience in Microsoft Office

∙ Have previous experience working to deadlines and have ability to successfully manage their time

∙ Communicate clearly and engagingly in written English across a range of media forms

∙ Be able to communicate verbally to encompass the range of cultures you will be working with

∙ To have a good level of written English and be able to proofread documents to a high standard

∙ To have a curious mind and a patient, problem solving attitude

∙ Ideally have previous experience living, working or travelling in a developing country, though is not essential

∙ Be fluent in English. A working knowledge of French is desirable but not essential

∙ Be capable and comfortable adapting to life in a least developed country with sometimes basic living conditions

∙ Be able to work and socialise within a small group of people and to be respectful and take personal responsibility for maintaining a good reputation for the NGO in the community

∙ Be able to adjust to life in another culture and a foreign language and be able to work at all times with cultural sensitivity

∙ Demonstrate the ability, social skills and confidence to give clear guidance and support to other members of the team in respect of the philosophy and procedures of SEED in order to protect both their safety and the reputation of the NGO.

Practicalities

The successful candidate will be able to financially support themselves for the full duration of this post and will have their own laptop computer (non-tablet).